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A Short History of Drunkenness

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( 4,038 ratings, 543 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
A Short History of Drunkenness by Mark Forsyth explores the fascinating social, cultural, and historical aspects of alcohol consumption throughout various ages and civilizations. The book presents a witty journey from ancient times to the modern era, examining how drinking has shaped societies and human behaviour. Forsyth delves into the rituals, customs, and quirks that different cultures have developed around drinking, offering an engaging and humorous perspective on humanity's long-standing relationship with alcohol.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you have an interest in the quirky and humorous exploration of alcohol's role throughout human history. Mark Forsyth provides a lively romp through different cultures and eras, examining how drinking has influenced societies and celebrations from ancient Egypt to modern times.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A comic history of humankind's love affair with booze, from the Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author of The Etymologicon.

Almost every culture on earth has drink, and where there's drink there's drunkenness. But in every age and in every place, drunkenness is a little bit different. It can be religious, it can be sexual, it can be the duty of kings or the relief of peasants. It can be an offering to the ancestors, or a way of marking the end of a day's work. It can send you to sleep or send you into battle.

A Short History of Drunkenness traces humankind's love affair with booze from our primate ancestors through to Prohibition, answering every possible question along the way: What did people drink? How much? Who did the drinking? Of the many possible reasons, why?

On the way, learn about the Neolithic Shamans, who drank to communicate with the spirit world (no pun intended), marvel at how Greeks got giddy and Romans got rat-arsed, and find out how bars in the Wild West were never quite like in the movies.

This is a history of the world at its inebriated best.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Mark Forsyth's A Short History of Drunkenness is praised for its humour and wit, providing an entertaining sprint through human history. Reviews highlight Forsyth's engaging storytelling, comparing it to a lively TED talk infused with comedy. Critics appreciate its snappy jokes and the way it adeptly blends historical insights with entertaining anecdotes, making it a highly enjoyable read.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241359242

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 September 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 16.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 184g

Pages: 256

About the Author

Mark Forsyth's The Etymologicon was a Sunday Times Number One Bestseller and his TED Talk 'What's a snollygoster?' has had more than half a million views. He has also written a specially commissioned essay 'The Unknown Unknown' for Independent Booksellers Week and the introduction for the new edition of the Collins English Dictionary. He lives in London with his dictionaries, and blogs at blog.inkyfool.com.

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